Sudan authorities continue to confiscate newspapers

New York, September 15, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the growing
censorship of newspapers in Sudan.
In the past two weeks alone, the National Intelligence and Security Services
(NISS) halted the distribution of four different opposition newspapers without cause.

On September 4, 6, 8, and 11,
Sudanese authorities confiscated four print-runs of the Sudanese Communist
Party thrice-weekly Al-Midan, local and international news reports said.
On Tuesday, the paper was seized again by the NISS, for the fifth time in two
weeks. On September 4 and 8, two other opposition newspapers, Al-Jarida
and Al-Sahafa, respectively, were confiscated by authorities. On Tuesday,
the pro-government paper Akhbar al-Youm was seized, local reports said.

"The repeated
confiscation of these newspapers' entire print-runs is an insidious form of
censorship designed to put the publications out of business," said CPJ Deputy
Director Robert Mahoney. "The people of Sudan are entitled to hear
alternative voices. The government must respect this right and allow these
papers to publish without interference."

NISS officials informed Al-Jarida
that it would continue to be confiscated if it persisted in publishing articles
by journalists who had worked for the banned Ajras al-Hurriya, which was
suspended in July along
with five other South Sudanese-run newspapers that had run critical
commentaries on the government, according to local reports.

On Saturday, the National Press and Publications Council also ordered the suspension of another six
newspapers covering sports--Habib Al-Balad, Al-Mushahid, Al-Za'eem,
Suber, Al-Mureekh, and Aa'lim Al-Noojum--for their alleged "breach
of licensing" procedures which included "inciting violence between teams,"
according to news reports.

CPJ has reported
on previous newspaper confiscations in Sudan, an ongoing repressive tactic
employed by the government. In each case, the authorities wait for the
newspapers to be printed and then confiscate the copies before they are
distributed, thus inflicting maximum financial losses.

Editor's Note:The original text of this news alert has been
modified to correct the identification of Akhbar al-Youm. Akhbar al-Youm is pro-government,
and not opposition, as previously described. The description of Al-Midan has been altered to reflect
that it is a thrice-weekly, and not biweekly, paper.